Separator box



M, ma

A H. LVY

SEPARATOR BOX Filed June 25,1934

x INVENTOR Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to metal separator boxes and contemplates theprovision of a box designed for the separation of various sizes andcompositions of type metal from each other, and for the separation ofimmediately usable trimmings of such metal from the unusable trimmings,shavings and sweepings with which the usable trimmings are usuallymixed.

In printing plants using both monotype ma- 'vl0 chines and castingmachines for the formation of comparatively large slugs such as linotypeand intertype machines, the slugs cast by the monotype machine consistgenerally of individual characters and are comparatively small in size.The

F type metal used for the small slugs is of a different composition fromthat used for the casting of slugs comprising an entire line or amultiplicity of characters. In the cases where both types of machinesare used in the same plant, it is diicult to separate the metal or slugsused in the different types of machines, when the printing job iscompleted and the metals are to be remelted for further use. It will beunderstood that these metals, being made from Widely different formulae,should not be mixed, because if they are inadvertently mixed and meltedtogether even in a special remelting pot, the original formula ischanged, and the work-properties of the metal and of the type madetherefrom are adversely affected.

In printing plants wherein no separate melting pot is used, but Wherethe old slugs are fed back directly to the machine pot and meltedtherein for reuse, it is desirable similarly to have the metals fed backto the proper machine which originally cast the slugs so thatundesirable mixing of the different metals does not occur.

In all plants using type setting machines, the slugs cast by suchmachines are saw-trimmed and 40 shaved to a considerable extent,resulting in waste pieces of Widely varying sizes. Some of the trimmingsmay be large enough to go directly into the melting pot, if kept clean,but the small trimmings and .shavings must rst be refined as they 45produce excessive dross when remelted. In .the trimming and shavingoperations, however, the waste pieces drop to the floor. A considerableamount of labor and time would be required to pick off the oor the largepieces for reinsertion o into the machine melting pot and to clean saidpieces free of small shavings and dirt.

My invention therefore contemplates the provision of means forseparating large size line type slugs such as linotype and intertypeslugs from small size single type character slugs such as monotypeslugs, and for also separating large trimmings from small trimmings,dirt and shavings.

My invention further contemplates the provision of simple, economical,durable, efficient and easily manipulated means for quickly sorting thetype metal slugs of different sizes (and consequently of differentformulae) and for sorting out the comparatively large size trimmings ofsufficient size to warrant their reinsertion into the lil melting pot ofthe casting machines, from smaller trimmings and shavings which do notwarrant such reinsertion but which are of such nature that they shouldbe refined before remelting in the machine pot.

'I'he various objects of my invention will be clear from the descriptionwhich follows, and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a now preferred form of my invention. 20

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical longitudinal section and partial sideelevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of the same, showing theguard Wall for material dumped on the screen.

In that practical embodiment of my invention which I have shown by wayof example, the separator screen II) is preferably secured at its sidesbetween the screen-holding strips II and the upper edge of each of theside walls I2 of the box, 30 said strips and walls being preferably madeof wood for economy and ease of construction. At one end, the crossstrip I3 is similarly secured to the upper edge of the end wall I4 ofthe box with the end portion of the screen III therebetween. At thedischarge end of the box, however, the cross strip I5 (Fig. 2) issecured to an additional cross piece I6 which is in turn secured to thewalls I2.

To prevent material dumped on the screen from 4o falling olf the box,the side walls I2 are each preferably recessed Vas at I'I for thereception of the guard wall or' plate I8, said wall being preferablymade of metal to resist the action of the slugs thereupon. Similarly,the bottom I9'of the '4e box is recessed as at 20 for the reception ofthe wear-resisting metallic discharge lip or guard plate 2|. It will beunderstood that the box is closed at one end, the sides, and the bottom,the other end 30 being open, and the top being par- 50 tially closed bythe screen. Material passing through the screen and falling on thebottom I9 is discharged through the open end 30 of the box. A suitableremovable closure ls provided at said open end. Said closure takes theform of a vertical slidable one-piece metal .door as 22, having bevelledcorners as 23 and 24 and provided with an outwardly turned lip as 25serving as a handle whereby the door may be raised or lowered. Theheight of the door is such that it extends above the side walls I2 aboutthe same distance as the guards I8 extend thereabove, thereby formingacompartment above the screen open at the closed end of the box for thedischarge of material remaining on the screen. In order to providesuitable guides for the sliding door 22, one leg of an angle member as26 is secured to each of the sides I2 in such a manner as to provide agroove `21 between the other leg 28 of the angle member and the adjacentedge of each of the walls I2, the door 22 sliding in the .groove 21 thusformed and being adapted to rest on the upper surface of the bottom I9normally to close the discharge opening 30.

In operation, should it be desired to separate individual type characterslugs from line type slugs, the mass of intermixed slugs are placed onthe screen I0 and the box is shaken, the mass being held in place on thescreen by the guards I8 and the top of the door 22. The holes in thescreen are approximately a half inch square, thereby permitting theindividual character slugs to fall through the screen on to the bottomI9, While the line slugs which are usually about two inches wide, cannotfall through the openings in the screen and remain thereon.

After the screening operation has been performed, the box need merely betilted to dump the line slugs remaining on top of the screen into aremelting pot, or said slugs may be dumped into a suitable container forreinsertion into the melting pot of the casting machine, the guards I8preventing the slugs from falling off the sides of the screen.

To remove the single character slugs, the door 22 may now be raised inthe grooves 21 therefor, to open the discharge opening 30 and the boxtilted to discharge the slugs into a suitable receptacle therefor, theslugs striking the metal guard plate 2I as they are discharged.

If the box is to be used to separate large size trimmings from shavingsand dirt, the entire mass is dumped on the screen I0 land the box shakenas before to permit the small size trimmings, shavings and `dirt to fallon to the bottom I9. The large trimmings, however, cannot pass throughthe screen and remain on top. It being understood that small trimmingswhen remelted are quickly oxidized and produce an excessive amount ofdross, it is desirable that the large trimmings be separated from thesmall trimmings, shavings and dirt. The large trimmings thus separatedmay be reinserted into the machine melting pot, and the smallertrimmings together with any dirt and accumulated shavings may be dumpedinto a suitable drum for shipment to a metal rener or smelter.

It will be understoodthat by reason of the construction of my improvedbox, it is comparatively easy not only to perform the separatingoperation, but also to perform the .discharge or dumping operationseither through one end of the box or past the unguarded end of thescreen as the case may be, the sliding door when closed serving toprevent loss of the screened material.

It will further be seen that the means for performing the variousfunctions above described are simple in construction but durable,efficient and economical, and well adapted to meet the requirements ofpractical use.

While I have shown and described certain specic embodiments of myinvention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto butdesire to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the stateof the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

Y 1. A type metal separator box having an open end and top, a screensecured at said top and having openings therein of such size as to closethe top against the passage into the box of line type slugs dumped onthe screen but permitting the passage of single character slugstherethrough, a four-sided frame secured to the entire periphery of theuppei` surface of said screen and to the sides and to one end of thebox, said frame having a flat upper surface spaced above the uppersurface of the screen, a one-piece metal door extending across the widthof the box slidable at the open end of the box and adapted to close thesame, and metal upright side guards projecting above the screen and eachsecured to aside of the box, the space between said guards at one of theends thereof and above the screen being open to permit the sliding of aloaded tray into said space and on the frame.

2. A type metal separator box closed on three sides and the bottom, ascreen at the top of the box, resting on the uppermost edges of saidsides, a rectangular frame on the screen, means for securing the frameto said sides with the screen therebetween, a slidable door at one endof the box, said door being of suicient height to extend above thescreen when closed, a metal plate secured to the bottom in a recesstherein and extending beyond the end of the box and a metal guard platesecured to each side of the box in a recess therein to cover theadjacent edge of the screen `and extending above the screen andcooperating With the door to form a compartment open at one end topermit the slidable insertion of, and to hold material dumped on thescreen.

3. A separator box for' separating type metal slugs, or trimmings andshavings of various sizes, comprising a pair of side walls, an end wallof the same height as the wide walls and closing one end of the box, abottom, a horizontal screen resting on the uppermost edges of said sideand end walls, a four-sided frame above the screen, a horizontal crossstrip arranged at the other end of the box with its uppermost edge incoplanar relation to the uppermost edges of the side and end walls, andsupporting the adjacent end edge of the screen, said frame being secured.to the uppermost edges of the side and end Walls and of said crossstrip with the screen therebetween whereby a flat horizontal uppersurface is provided on the frame in vertical spaced relation to thescreen, saiddoor adapted removably to close and to extend l entirelyacross said other end of the box and to engage the upper surface of thebottom in its closed position, said door being of suflicient height toclose at al1 times the end space between said guards, said door havingan integral out-turned handle portion bent from the material of the doorand from its upper edge portion, and metal angle members, each providedwith a flange secured to the outer face of one of the side Walls andwith a perpendicular ange spaced from the end edge of the adjacent sidewall to provide a door-receiving space therebetween, said `screen beingpro-vided with openings of sufficient size to permit the passagetherethrough of single character-type slugs but of insuflicient size topermit 5 the passage of line slugs.

- A. I-IOYT LEVY.

